Navigator

Howard Brown Health is a nationally recognized leader in LGBTQ+ health and wellness. Our commitment to inclusive and affirming care has made us a cornerstone of the Chicago community. At Howard Brown, we believe in providing holistic, patient-centered care that empowers individuals and enriches lives.

• A commitment to work-life balance with:
  • 3-weeks paid vacation and 1-week of personal time
  • 12 accrued sick days per year
  • 9 paid holidays, including Juneteenth
  • PTO Exchange allows employees to turn unused PTO into liquid assets
• Employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance with two PPO plans and an HMO plan.
  • BCBS HMO, PPO, and PPO Select Plans
  • Eye Med Vision premium
• 401k program with up to 5% employer match after 90 days
• Employer-paid basic life insurance valued at one times the annual salary
• Voluntary Life and AD&D, and Short-term and Long-term disability
• Up to $720 pre-tax commuter and parking benefit account
• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Tuition Reimbursement and Student Loan Forgiveness Programs; NHSC & PSLF
• Employee Assistance Program with 5 employer-paid counseling sessions
• 50% off at Brown Elephant Resale Shops and discounts at local businesses

Pay: $24.17/hour

The Health Benefits Navigator is responsible for enrolling eligible Illinoisans into qualified health plans through the Illinois Health Marketplace, Medicaid, and Medicare. In addition, the Health Benefits Navigator will screen clients for other resources they may qualify for, including SNAP, rental assistance, pharmaceutical assistance programs, ADAP, and internal medical and social services. Finally, the Health Benefits Navigator will ensure that clients have access to healthcare by educating patients on their insurance benefits, helping patients navigate the healthcare system, and troubleshooting problems patients may experience with their insurance.

• Meet with clients individually to provide benefits navigation assistance
• Screen clients for eligibility for health insurance, public benefits, and other financial assistance programs
• Assist individuals in understanding and electing plans and benefits that they are eligible for
• Assist individuals in learning how to use their health insurance, including how to get referrals, how to determine what providers are in network, and how to understand medical bills
• Troubleshoot and research insurance-related problems
• Enter data of enrollment activities into a tracking system
• Contact patients and communicate when insurance issues have been identified
• Work with other departments at Howard Brown Health in order to identify uninsured patients and facilitate patient care
• Attend all trainings and continuing education as required by the CAC and SHIP Programs
• Demonstrate cultural competency when working with clients who may be HIV+, LGBT, homeless, indigent, substance users, or otherwise marginalized and/or underserved
• Attend planned activities to identify individuals to be enrolled in health care plans as directed
• Attend and assist with agency-wide events and activities as directed
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or GED
• Obtain and maintain certification as a Certified Application Counselor and SHIP Counselor
• Meet face to face with patients and clients in a shared space
• Ability to effectively and accurately respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, outside agencies, and the general public
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Experience and/or ability to work with diverse populations are essential.
• This position will require non-traditional hours, including evening and weekend hours. May need to work overtime during peak enrollment times.
• This position will require travel for outreach events and between the various Howard Brown Health medical sites.
• Demonstrate the ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects, establish workload priorities, collect and report enrollment data, and meet deadlines.

• Case management and/or public benefit screening experience desirable
• Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred

(Physical demands that must be met in order to successfully complete the essential functions of the job)

• Requires ability to speak audibly and listen actively.
• Requires ability to use computers, telephones and other office equipment.
• Requires ability to sit for extended periods of time.
• May require occasional bending and lifting up to 25 pounds.
• May require periodic travel among Howard Brown Health locations based on patient need.

Howard Brown is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage people of diverse ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, disabilities, religions, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, abilities,…